# Clitoris in Female Mammals/Apes **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 8, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clitoris-in-female-mammals-apes/634128 "2012-09-08T21:45:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Simple\_Mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7cd45c/32.png) [@Simple\_Mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Mind)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clitoris-in-female-mammals-apes/634128/1 "2012-09-08T21:45:25Z")
Hi, I was wondering if other than Human Females, Mammals/Apes do have a Clitoris, if not would not that be an indicator that Humans are/could be “designed” in this way to actually encourage intercourse more frequently than “naturally”? ---
**Author:** ![VernWinterbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c67d28/32.png) [@VernWinterbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VernWinterbottom)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clitoris-in-female-mammals-apes/634128/2 "2012-09-08T22:01:50Z")
The first sentence of the Wikipedia entry on clitoris answers your question. Having sex feel pleasurable is certainly a reproductive advantage to animals in which the egg is fertilized internally. Read the “In other animals” section, too. . . ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clitoris-in-female-mammals-apes/634128/3 "2012-09-08T22:02:58Z")
Yes, all mammals have a clitoris. Well, the female ones. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7cd45c/32.png) [@Simple\_Mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Mind)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clitoris-in-female-mammals-apes/634128/4 "2012-09-08T22:23:29Z")
Thanks for the answers, I apologize for not looking it up on Wikipedia. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clitoris-in-female-mammals-apes/634128/5 "2012-09-08T22:31:20Z")
How else would one train one’s monkubines? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clitoris-in-female-mammals-apes/634128/6 "2012-09-08T22:47:52Z")
As has been said, all female mammals have clitorises (or clitorides, if one wishes to be technical about it). A few female mammals have hypertrophied clitorises, or pseudopenises. The most notable of these is the female Spotted Hyena, which has [the largest clitoris](http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Largest-Clitoris-in-the-World-45527.shtml) of any mammal. Female Spotted Hyenas are dominant over males, and the pseudopenis is used in dominance displays. Among primates, some lemurs and monkeys also have hypertrophied clitorises. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clitoris-in-female-mammals-apes/634128/7 "2012-09-08T23:50:11Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > As has been said, all female mammals have clitorises… Including monotremes? ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clitoris-in-female-mammals-apes/634128/8 "2012-09-09T00:44:34Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Among primates, some lemurs and monkeys also have hypertrophied clitorises. To-wit: Spider monkeys (or at least certain species thereof). Wiki article: [Geoffroy’s spider monkey](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffroy%27s_spider_monkey) > [@](#): > > The clitoris of female Geoffroy’s spider monkeys is large and protrudes, looking like a penis.[15] This organ, called a pendulous clitoris because of the way it dangles externally, is actually larger than the male flaccid penis.[17] As a result, females are sometimes mistaken for males by human observers.[15] Photo (NSFW!) [http://www.flickr.com/photos/studionate/2932200135/](http://www.flickr.com/photos/studionate/2932200135/) ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clitoris-in-female-mammals-apes/634128/9 "2012-09-09T02:55:26Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > To-wit: Spider monkeys (or at least certain species thereof). > > Wiki article: [Geoffroy’s spider monkey](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffroy%27s_spider_monkey) > Photo (NSFW!) > > [http://www.flickr.com/photos/studionate/2932200135/](http://www.flickr.com/photos/studionate/2932200135/) Um. Wow. I think I may be speechless. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clitoris-in-female-mammals-apes/634128/10 "2012-09-09T03:39:50Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Including monotremes? I haven’t found direct confirmation, but since [the echidna has a penis](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKZcf0KBo-U) resembling something out of _Aliens_, I have no reason to think that female monotremes lack a clitoris. For a longer presentation, see also: [The World’s Most Terrifying Penises: The Echidna.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr_cn66sYc8) While we’re on the subject of exotic mammalian genitalia, I should mention the interesting fact that female marsupials have not one, not two, but three, count 'em, three vaginas. They have two lateral vaginas to accommodate the paired penises of the male marsupial. If they get pregnant, they give birth through a centrally placed birth canal that develops especially for the purpose. I swear, a diagram of the reproductive system of a female marsupial looks like a New York City Subway map. ---
**Author:** ![LinusK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@LinusK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinusK)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clitoris-in-female-mammals-apes/634128/11 "2012-09-09T06:00:34Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I haven’t found direct confirmation, but since [the echidna has a penis](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKZcf0KBo-U) resembling something out of _Aliens_, I have no reason to think that female monotremes lack a clitoris. > > For a longer presentation, see also: [The World’s Most Terrifying Penises: The Echidna.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr_cn66sYc8) > > While we’re on the subject of exotic mammalian genitalia, I should mention the interesting fact that female marsupials have not one, not two, but three, count 'em, three vaginas. They have two lateral vaginas to accommodate the paired penises of the male marsupial. If they get pregnant, they give birth through a centrally placed birth canal that develops especially for the purpose. I swear, a diagram of the reproductive system of a female marsupial looks like a New York City Subway map. Thank you. Now I am scarred for life. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clitoris-in-female-mammals-apes/634128/12 "2012-09-09T06:31:00Z")
**Colibri** : Is it true, per Wikipedia, that Spotted Hyenas give birth through their clitoris? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clitoris-in-female-mammals-apes/634128/13 "2012-09-09T06:44:55Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > **Colibri** : Is it true, per Wikipedia, that Spotted Hyenas give birth through their clitoris? It’s referenced elsewhere, including on university reference sites, so I believe that is correct. Probably not something that should be mentioned in front of expectant human mothers.😉 ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clitoris-in-female-mammals-apes/634128/14 "2012-09-09T11:01:13Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I haven’t found direct confirmation, but since [the echidna has a penis](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKZcf0KBo-U) resembling something out of _Aliens_, I have no reason to think that female monotremes lack a clitoris. Oh. Oh. My goodness. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clitoris-in-female-mammals-apes/634128/15 "2012-09-09T17:46:39Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > the echidna has a penis resembling something out of _Aliens_, I have no reason to think that female monotremes lack a clitoris. > For a longer presentation, see also: [The World’s Most Terrifying Penises: The Echidna.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr_cn66sYc8) So one of my favorite jokes has some basis in fact. Ignorance fought. _Two women watching a movie in the theater. W1 whispers: “The man sitting next to me is exposing himself!” W2: “You don’t need to get so alarmed. It’s not as if you’ve never seen a penis.” W1: “Yes, **but this one’s eating my popcorn**.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clitoris-in-female-mammals-apes/634128/16 "2012-09-09T17:58:42Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > It’s referenced elsewhere, including on university reference sites, so I believe that is correct. > > Probably not something that should be mentioned in front of expectant human mothers.😉 It might, however, be useful in debates with proponents of Intelligent Design. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clitoris-in-female-mammals-apes/634128/17 "2012-09-09T18:06:52Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > It might, however, be useful in debates with proponents of Intelligent Design. Hey, if knees don’t convince 'em… ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7cd45c/32.png) [@Simple\_Mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Mind)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clitoris-in-female-mammals-apes/634128/18 "2012-09-09T22:52:58Z")
Now we covered almost all the weird ones but I am still wondering if they fulfill the same purpose of stimulating the Female into a sexually aroused “Beast”, I live in a rural environment and witness a lot of different kind of copulations but I fail to see any Animal purposefully stimulating the Clitoris of the Female, what’s up? ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clitoris-in-female-mammals-apes/634128/19 "2012-09-10T04:38:35Z")
> [@Simple\_Mind](#): > > Now we covered almost all the weird ones but I am still wondering if they fulfill the same purpose of stimulating the Female into a sexually aroused “Beast”, I live in a rural environment and witness a lot of different kind of copulations but I fail to see any Animal purposefully stimulating the Clitoris of the Female, what’s up? How inconsiderate. They’re fucking animals, I tell you. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clitoris-in-female-mammals-apes/634128/20 "2012-09-10T05:20:58Z")
> [@Simple\_Mind](#): > > Now we covered almost all the weird ones but I am still wondering if they fulfill the same purpose of stimulating the Female into a sexually aroused “Beast”, I live in a rural environment and witness a lot of different kind of copulations but I fail to see any Animal purposefully stimulating the Clitoris of the Female, what’s up? Nature takes care of that, so nothing has to be purposeful. Whey would you think it had to be? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clitoris-in-female-mammals-apes/634128.md?page=2)